Tools I Actually Use

Why I Recommend It

Gusto handles payroll, tax filings, and new-hire onboarding in one place. I recommend it to nearly every founder-led business I work with because payroll errors are costly and compliance gaps create real liability. Gusto eliminates most of that risk automatically.

Best For

E-commerce brands and SaaS companies with 1–50 employees who want payroll that just works without a dedicated HR team.

Honest Tradeoff

Slightly pricier than bare-bones payroll processors, but the time saved and compliance coverage justify the cost at almost any revenue level.

Why I Recommend It

Amazon account issues — suspensions, listing suppressions, policy violations — can halt revenue overnight. Riverbend's team specializes exclusively in this, which means faster resolution than a generalist agency.

Best For

Amazon sellers generating $500K+ annually who can't afford extended downtime from account issues.

Honest Tradeoff

Specialized rather than full-service. If you need broad marketplace strategy, you'll still need a separate growth advisor.

Why I Recommend It

Mercury is FDIC-insured through partner banks, offers free ACH and wires, and has clean API integrations that make bookkeeping reconciliation much easier. I use it for TNS Practices and recommend it as a primary or secondary operating account.

Best For

Startups, e-commerce operators, and founder-led businesses who want a modern banking experience without hidden fees.

Honest Tradeoff

No physical branches and limited cash deposit options. If your business handles significant cash, you'll need a supplemental account.

Why I Recommend It

Idle cash in a checking account is a silent cost. Marcus consistently offers competitive APYs with no fees and no minimum balance — a simple way to put your operating reserves to work.

Best For

Any business sitting on $25K+ in cash reserves that isn't actively earning interest elsewhere.

Honest Tradeoff

Savings only — no checking, no debit card. Best used alongside a primary operating account like Mercury.

Why I Recommend It

Doola handles LLC/C-corp formation, registered agent service, EIN procurement, and annual compliance filings in one dashboard. Referral clients get a 10% discount. For international founders especially, the guided setup is a significant time-saver.

Best For

First-time founders, international entrepreneurs forming a US entity, and solo operators who want formation done right without hiring an attorney for the basics.

Honest Tradeoff

A good attorney is still worth consulting for complex structures (multiple classes of equity, complicated operating agreements). Doola is best for straightforward formations.

Why I Recommend It

Otter joins calls automatically, transcribes in real time, and generates action items. For client-facing work, having accurate records of what was discussed and agreed to is genuinely valuable — I use it in every advisory call.

Best For

Consultants, founders, and operators who spend several hours per week in meetings and want searchable records without a manual note-taking burden.

Honest Tradeoff

Accuracy drops on calls with heavy technical jargon or multiple simultaneous speakers. Review AI-generated summaries before sharing externally.

Why I Recommend It

Replit lets non-engineers (and engineers who want to move fast) build and deploy real web applications using AI. I've used it to build client-facing tools without a development team. It dramatically lowers the cost and time of going from idea to working prototype.

Best For

Founders and operators who want to build internal tools, dashboards, or lightweight apps without hiring a developer or waiting months.

Honest Tradeoff

Best for MVPs and internal tooling. Complex, high-scale production systems typically need dedicated engineering resources.

Why I Recommend It

Lovable generates polished, deployable web apps from natural language prompts. It's particularly strong for landing pages, client portals, and simple SaaS interfaces where speed matters more than full custom control.

Best For

Non-technical founders validating an idea quickly, or operators who need a clean UI for an internal process without a front-end developer.

Honest Tradeoff

Less flexibility than code-first platforms for complex custom logic. Works best when your requirements are well-defined.

Why I Recommend It

Bolt is another AI-driven builder with strong templating and a clean output. I recommend it alongside Replit and Lovable depending on the project type — each has slightly different strengths in UI generation and backend integration.

Best For

Founders who want a fast, polished front-end output and prefer a template-driven starting point.

Honest Tradeoff

Like other AI builders, works best for well-scoped projects. Ambiguous or rapidly changing requirements tend to accumulate technical debt quickly.

Why I Recommend It

WeFunder lets startups raise from their community — customers, fans, and aligned investors — under Reg CF rules. For consumer brands especially, turning loyal customers into investors creates powerful alignment and word-of-mouth momentum.

Best For

Consumer brands, community-driven startups, and founders with an engaged audience who want to raise capital while deepening customer relationships.

Honest Tradeoff

Equity crowdfunding requires public disclosure of financials and a well-run campaign to succeed. It's not a substitute for a solid business model — transparency is non-negotiable.

Why I Recommend It

Republic has a strong curation reputation and a broad investor base. Their platform supports Reg CF and Reg A+ raises, giving more flexibility on raise size. I recommend exploring both WeFunder and Republic to see which fits your campaign goals.

Best For

Startups that want a curated, investor-facing platform with strong brand positioning and larger raise potential.

Honest Tradeoff

Republic has a more selective acceptance process. Plan for a longer onboarding timeline and a polished pitch deck before applying.